Labornet Japan is a network of citizens, unionists, activists, scholars and others from all walks of life to share information especially about rights and struggles in and outside of Japan. Established in 2001, the group now has more than 500 members, and the membership is growing. The English site introduces some reports shared on Labornet Japan website and other sources outside of Japan.

Monday, May 26, 2014

“Don’t destroy the Constitution!” – Protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office

On May
15, 2014, the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of
the Legal Basis for Security, a private advisory panel of Japan’s Prime
Minister ABE Shinzo, filed a “report” to him. Based on the report, Abe
expressed his consideration for using the right to collective self-defense at a
press conference. Thus, he is going to nullify Article nine of the Japanese
Constitution, which denounces war, and send Japan’s Self Defense Forces
overseas to war. In the evening of that day, many people came to the front of
the Prime Minister’s Office to protest, saying, “Don’t play with the
Constitution!” “The Abe Administration is unconstitutional!” and “Don’t destroy
the Constitution!”. Once Japan is involved in war, Japan also possibly becomes
a battlefield. (Shinya)

Two days
before, a human chain was organized to surround the
Diet amid a tense situation that the
Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security, a private
advisory panel of Japan’s Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, would present him a report
to “approve use of the right to collective self-defense” on as early as May 15.
Many carried placards, saying, “Draft again”, “Never forget the tragedy of
war”, and “Are we going to make war again?” Each of them reflected their anger
and senses of danger. The number of the demonstrators finally reached approximately
2,500 to surround the Diet. On this day, many junior high school students
visited the building. When one of the demonstrators told them, “We defend the
peace constitution for you and never allow war”, the students were waving
happily. TAKADA Ken, the organizer of the action, appealed, “It was decided
that the report would be filed to the Prime Minister on May 15, followed by Abe’s press conference. We will say no to his pro-war stance as the sovereign
here at 6pm on that day again”. (M)